Run



Run







Silence. Cold, tense silence.



A thick eerily fog hovers over the forest. The soft moonlight barely breaching through the grey clouds. Creating an illusion of ravenous monsters lying in wait, of old twisted trees and shrubbery. As I Lay under an old ,wet, moss-cover boulder there’s an untamed wall of blackberry bushes to my left. No sound of any nocturnal life, not even the songs of crickets singing dared to pierce the night; as if the whole forest knew of the monster prowling among the shadows. Darting eyes around for any movement coming from the clearing which lies just a few feet away.. The creepy crawlies which danced across the wet foliage found the heat of my legs comforting.

Crack! SNAP





The sudden loud noise sent a jolt of fear down my spine as my eyes franticly darted to the direction of the sound.“How’d it get so close!? What should I do?? Does it know I’m here??”My mind and heart began to race.

“How’d it get so close!? What should I do?? Does it know I’m here??”

My mind and heart began to race.

My mind and heart began to race.



Crackle! CRACK crick SNAP!



The branches and twigs snapping by the weight of the creature coming. Everything in my body screamed run, but where? And how many were there this time? The warning call of the spotted white owls echoed through the trees. Scurrying, and flying in every direction. Away from the evil moving through the darkness. The creature must know from where I was hiding, Somehow through the mist and dim light, it spotted me. I stood. My legs frozen in fear. I wanted to run but I just stood there. Just then the fog thinned out, only to reveal a slow moving dark mass stalking behind the trees. To the right, a red glowing eye scanned through the forest, stopping on the bushes, blocking me. Nothing but death emitted from that glare. Hot electricity ran through my blood.

The warning call of the spotted white owls echoed through the trees. Scurrying, and flying in every direction. Away from the evil moving through the darkness. The creature must know from where I was hiding, Somehow through the mist and dim light, it spotted me. I stood. My legs frozen in fear. I wanted to run but I just stood there. Just then the fog thinned out, only to reveal a slow moving dark mass stalking behind the trees. To the right, a red glowing eye scanned through the forest, stopping on the bushes, blocking me. Nothing but death emitted from that glare. Hot electricity ran through my blood.



RUN!



Whipping around, I bolted full speed through the forest, my shoulders knocking into every twig and branch. Running with the darkness of the night, a blanket of fog hovering amongst the maze of trees, I knew the monster was on my trail. I can’t focus on that, I couldn't; my only concern was to get back to dad's farm. Bulldozing my way, ignoring the shooting pain from my shoulders and legs from the twigs and thorns that tore my skin. If only I had listened to momma and not gone beyond the gate. With my heart pounding in my ear I could still hear her. "My darling, there aren’t many rules I have, but there are two I must express with extreme caution . First, do not hurt Father Blue. He is a good man that has taken care of this land and our family for generations. Second, Do not go into the forest beyond the gate. Evil monsters that lure innocent souls to an unforgiving fate." My eyes filled with tears, was this how I would go? Will I never see my family and my friends again?



Boom boom!! Ssssssssssssss!!!



Thunderous terrifying sound stirred the forest, followed by a sharp whistle. Something bolted directly into me, the impact knocked me hard into a spruce filled with nettles. Staggering I regained my balance, only to find a wounded, panicked deer, which seemed just as dazed as I, we met eyes just before it took off. Trying to catch my breath the neglect of rest and water began to set it. It's been some time since I was lured in by the sweet song and smell, maybe that was the monsters plan all along. The fog was lifting slowly, making it easier to look for a clear path. My legs began to shake, my body feeling ten times heavier; in that moment I wanted to collapse and just let sleep take me. A light breeze reminds my body of the cuts and bruises that I forgot in the panic of fear. Turning in circles, desperately searching for something, ANYTHING, that was familiar or a sign of home.

"Hellooo??"



Momma? That couldn't be her voice, but sounds familiar.

"Helloo?? I'm here."



Tears again begin to fill my eyes as I frantically scanned the call. It wasn't momma but maybe someone that could help, it sounded familiar but I couldn't remember how.? Then I realized, that was the same voice from when I ran into the monsters earlier this morning. Did the voice follow the weird colorful animal as I had??

"Hellooo?? I'm here. Helloooo??"

Oh no, what if she didn't know of the danger, I could warn her.

About to take my chances and run back in the direction of the voice, something caught my eye. A small orange dim glow caught my eyes. It couldn't be sunrise, the roosters hadn’t called out yet. If not for the danger hunting me, I would have waited till dawn and followed the sound of the roosters home. It's light and where there is light there is shelter or better yet, home. I began limping towards the small glow, my body couldn’t run anymore no matter how badly I desired. After the impact, it seemed all the physical toil and exhaustion caught up. So as quickly as my body allowed , I limped forward over the shrubbery, between Douglas Firs and Redwood trees.

"Hello?? Hello?? I'm here."

I paused, it's the voice again, though not as far off as before. Was it coming from where i just was? Due to the fact everything seemed to be the same I can’t say for sure. I know if I went towards the voice I could help whoever was there, we could find our way out together. Maybe have a fighting chance; at the very least I wouldn’t be alone. Of course, what if it’s a trick? What if the voice was helping those evil monsters lure me towards them, or worst it was the monsters themselves. My heart and mind was torn, but I knew time was pushing me to make a choice. Reluctantly, I continued my way towards the light. Pushing through the pain, nothing else mattered except that dim light. The closer I wobbled towards the brighter, all my fear began to melt away. The mist uncovered a large barn, larger than I remember but to overwhelmed with joy to care. I made it. I couldn’t hold back the cry of joy that escaped my mouth. I did it. I survived. The trees stopped at the edge of a barb wired fence, I don’t remember the fence having barbed wired when I jumped over. Glancing to my right then my left, trying to recall were the gate was. An open gate welcomed me a few feet off to my left, Father Blue and Momma must have been hoping I come back and left it open. Wobbling into the field I called out to Momma, my nightmare was finally over. No response came from my cries but a low light flickered from inside the barn. Father Blue must still be up, my absence must have kept him up all night. The heavy barn door was a jarred, a foul smell pouring out. I approached the barn, swinging open the large cedar barn doors with my last bit of strength. Few steps in and I collapse on a pile of hay sprawled against an empty stall. Finally I can rest, even though I wanted to tell everyone I was home, it would have to wait till morning.

Footsteps followed by the closing and locking of the barn door, my eyes too heavy to see who. It must be Father Blue, is he leaving? Another pair of foot steps began walking past me, the sound of chains and tools clashed together. If that was Father Blue , then who was with him? And where was that awful smell coming from? An uneasy feeling churned deep down in my gut. I needed to see, what was going on but my eyes refused to obey. Just as I began to reason with my worries I heard the footsteps from the barn door come right near my head. A large coarse hand laid on top of my head and began to softly caress my hair, shushing my worries. I began to sink into darkness, everything began to fade out. I heard was a deep soothing unfamiliar voice "You gave us quiet the hunt little bull, a monster like you will fetch a good price". Another voice boomed with laughter "Whoowee! A monster like that will set us up very well". Both began to laugh, as a sudden pain shot through my shoulder then went numb, I'm so tired. I wanted to yell, I wanted to fight but more than anything I wanted to ask, How am I the monster?

All I could do was fall into a sweet,dark peace.